Outboard motor mounting clamp locking device



Nov. 4, 1958 R. l. SANDERSON ETAL ,3

OUTBOARD MOTOR'MOUNTING CLAMP LOCKING DEVICE 1 Filed June 26, 1956 m mumTea m r VMT. mSG

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United States Patent OUTBOARD MOTOR MOUNTING CLAMP LOCKHIG DEVICERichard I. Sanderson and Richard G. Trefts, Medina, N. Y.

' This invention relates generally to the fastener art, and morespecifically to a new and useful locking device for outboard motormounting clamps.

Outboard motors usually are detachably secured to a boat by meansincluding adjustable clamp devices which bear against the sternboard andhold the motor in place thereon. While such mounting clamp devicesnormally serve their intended purpose, they can and sometimes do worklose and permit accidental and undesired separation of the motor fromthe boat. In addition, such mounting means do not prevent unauthorizedremoval of the motor.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this inventin to provide adependable locking device for an outboard motor mounting clamp which issimple to install, easy to manipulate and foolproof in operation.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an outboard motormounting clamp locking device having the aforesaid characteristics andwhich is simple in construction and readily and relatively inexpensivelyfabricated and assembled.

An outboard motor mounting clamp locking device constructed in accordwith our invention is characterized by the provision of a base platemember adapted to be secured to the sternboard of the boat, a lockingplate member movable relative to the base plate member and having aportion slotted to receive the usual motor clamping screw, the slottedportion of the locking plate member being spaced from the base platemember to confine therebetween the presser foot or pad usually carriedby such motor clamping screw, and means for releasably holding thelocking plate member against movement relative to the base plate member.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages and characterizing featuresof an outboard motor mounting clamp locking device in accord with thisinvention will become clearly apparent from the ensuing detaileddescription of a presently preferred embodiment thereof, taken togetherwith the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specificationillustrating such embodiment wherem:

Fig. l is a generally perspective view showing our outboard motormounting clamp locking device as it appears in use, with the outboardmotor and its mounting clamp shown in phantom;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the locking device of Fig. 1,certain parts being broken away for greater clarity; and

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken about on line 3--3 of Fig.2. I

-Referring now to the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 shows the stern of anoutboard motorboat 1 of conventional design having the usual sternboard2. The locking device of this invention is generally designated 3 and isadapted to lock the mounting clamp of a conventional out-board motor 4in position on sternboard 2. Motor 4 can have the usual tiller 5,propeller drive shaft housing 6 and hand grip 7, and the mounting clamptherefor usually will include an inverted generally U-shaped part 8adapted to slip fit over the top edge of sternboard 2 and havingdepending legs 9 carrying adjustable, threaded stud members 10 havingpivoted handles 11 at their outer ends and pads or feet 12 (Fig. 2)loosely carried at their inner ends. v

The locking device of this invention serves to lock such motor mountingclamps in position so that the motor '4 can not possibly becomeseparated from the boat 1 under conditions of use apt to be encountered,and also provides means for preventing unauthorized removal of the motorfrom the boat.

In the presently preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, the outboard motor mounting I clamp locking device of ourinvention comprises an elongated base plate member 13 of generallychanneled form in cross section having a main body part 14 providedalong one edge thereof, comprising its bottom edge, with .an inturnedflange 15 defining a first guide channel, and provided along its otheredge with a pair of inturned flanges 15' adjacent the opposite endportions thereof defining an opposing guide channel. The main body part14 of base plate member 13 also is provided with a number of openingsfor receiving fastening screws 16 or the like.

A pair of locking plate members 17 are slidably mounted on base platemember 13 in opposition to each other, and inasmuch as the two lockingplate members are identical in construction only one thereof will bedescribed in detail herein.

Each locking plate member 17 has a main body part 18 spaced from themain body part 14 of base plate member 13 in generally parallel relationthereto, a depending outturned flange 19 along the bottom edge thereof,and a similar but slightly shorter depending outturned flange 19 alongthe'upper'edge thereof.

Locking plate members 17 are mounted in opposition on base plate member13 with their flanges 19 slidably received in flange 15 of base platemember 13 andwith their flanges 19 slidably received in the base platemember flanges 15', whereby the locking plate members are slidable onthe base plate member toward and away from each other between the fullyclosed position shown in full lines in the drawing and the fully openposition indicated by the broken line showing 20 of the left handlocking plate member in Fig. 2.

The locking plate members 17 are selectively, releasably held inadjusted position as by means of thumb screws 21 extending through slots22 formed in the outer end portions of the locking plate members andengaging headed nuts 23 extending through the main body part 14 of baseplate member 13 adjacent the opposite ends thereof. Each nut 23 has anannular flange 23' hearing against the back side of the base plate mainbody part 14 which is recessed, as at 24 (Fig. 3), to accommodate suchannular flanges 23 While maintaining a flush fitting attitude againstthe sternboard 2. Star washers 25 are carried by the thumb screws 21 andbear against the locking plate main body parts 18. Thus, by simplymanipulating thumb screws 21 the locking plate members 17 can besecurely but releasably locked in adjusted position.

At their inner end portions the opposed locking plate members 17 areprovided with slots 26 extending inwardly from the extreme inner ends ofthe locking plate members, which slots are adapted to receive thethreaded studs of the motor mounting clamp as clearly illustrated inFig. 2, the slots 26 terminating short of the slots 22, Because thelocking plate body part 18 is spaced from the base plate body part 14,as previously noted, the pads 12 carried at the inner ends of themounting clamp studs 1% are received between the respective body parts,whereby when the locking plate members are moved toward each other theyconfine the pads 12 in the locking device so that motor 4 can notaccidentally come loose from sternboard 2.

In use, base plate member 13 is secured to sternboard 2 so as to extendin a generally horizontal direction across the inner side thereof, beingheld in place by the screws 16, and the locking plate members 17 arefitted thereto and held against accidental separation therefrom bythumbscrews 21. When it is desired to attach motor 4 to boat 1 thumbscrews 21 are loosened and locking plate members 17 are retracted fromeach other, as to the broken line position illustrated in Fig. 2. Thenthe motor mounting clamp is fitted over the top edge of sternboard 2 inthe usual manner, with studs 10 having to be retracted, by rotation ofhandles 11 only to a degree sufficient to permit the pads 12 carriedthereby to slip between flanges 15 and over base plate member 13 which,as previously noted, lies flush against the sternboard 2. The lockingdevice 3 is positioned on sternboard- 2 so that when the mounting clampof motor 4 is in its usual position the threaded studs 10 thereof arealigned with the slots 26 of locking plate members 17. Then, studs 10are advanced to engage pads 12 against base plate member 13 and therebyclamp motor 4 in position in the usual manner.

Then locking plate members 17 are slid toward each other, with themounting clamp threaded studs 10 being received within the slots 26 andwith the pads 12 carried thereby being received between the base platebody part 14 and the locking plate body parts 18, to a closed or lockingposition with respect thereto preferably comprising the fully closed,abutting position of locking plate members 17 illustrated in full linesin the drawing.

Thus, upon tightening thumb screws 21' the locking plate members 17 aresecurely, although releasably, locked in position with the motormounting clamp pads 12 confined between the base and locking platemembers, whereby it will be appreciated that the locking device of ourinvention eflectively locks the motor mounting clamp to the sternboard 2in a manner precluding accidental separation of the motor 4 therefromuntil the thumb screws 21 are released and the locking plate members 17are retracted from each other to permit removal of the motor. Inaddition, slots 27 are provided in the inner end portions of the lockingplate members 17 for receiving a padlock or other locking devicetherethrough to prevent unauthorized separation of motor 4 from boat 1.Accordingly, it is seen that an outboard motor mounting clamp lockingdevice in accord with our invention clearly accomplishes the foregoingobjects, and it will be noted that the slots 26 have flared or taperedouter end portions 28 facilitating entrance of the threaded studs 10into the slots 26. Also, terminating flanges 19' of locking platemembers 17 short of the inner ends of the locking plate members leavesan open upper edge portion for passage of pads 12 thereunder withoutcompletely retracting the locking plate members which, together with thespace between flanges 15 of base plate member 13, simplifies theinstallation and removal of motor 4. The use ofseparate relatively shortflanges 15" also reduces the weight and cost of the device.

While only the presently preferred embodiment of our invention is'disclosed and described herein it is understood that We do not intend tolimit ourselves to the details thereof and that the same is susceptibleof variationand modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having fully disclosed and completely described our invention, and itsmode of operation, what we claim as new is:

l. A locking device for an outboard motor mounting clamp of the typeadapted to engage the sternboard of a boat and having adjustableclamping members including studs carrying pads comprising, an elongatedbase plate member having a main body part adapted to be secured to asternboard and to receive such pads thereagainst, said base plate memberhaving flange parts along its opposite side edges to provide guideportions thereat, a pair of opposed locking plate members each having amain body part spaced from the main body part of said base plate member,said locking plate members having flange parts along the opposite sideedges thereof interfitting with said base plate member guide portions,whereby said locking plate members are mounted on said base plate memberfor sliding movement relative thereto toward and away from each other,means defining lengthwise elongated locking slots in the outer endportions of said locking plate members, nut members carried by said baseplate member main body part adjacent the opposite ends thereof inalinement with said locking slots, adjustable locking screw membersextending through said locking slots into engagement with said nutmembers and'havin-g meansfor clamping said locking plate members againstsaid base plate member thereby to releasably hold said locking platemembers in adjusted position and against movement relative to each otherand to said base'plate member, and means defining slots extending intothe inner end portions of said locking plate main body parts from theinner ends thereof for receiving such studs while confining such padsbetween said base plate member main body part and the inner end portionsof said locking plate member main body parts.

2. A locking device for an outboard motor mounting clamp such as thoseof the type adapted tobe secured to the sternboard of a boat and havingadjustable clamping parts including a pair of stud members carryingpresser feet comprising, an elongated base plate member having a mainbody part adapted to be secured to a sternboard and to receive suchpresser feet thereagainst, inturned flange portions along the oppositeside edges of said base plate main body part providing opposed guidechannel formations thereat, one of said guide channel formationscomprising a pair of guide channel parts spaced apart centrally of saidbase plate main body part,.-a pair of locking plate members alignedlengthwise of said base plate member and each having a main body part inspaced apart and generally parallel relation to' said base plate mainbody part, said locking plate members having outurned flange parts alongthe opposite side edges of the main body parts thereof, said lockingplate flange parts fitting in said base plate guide channel formationswhereby said locking plate members are mounted for slidingni'ovementlengthwise of said base plate member toward and away from each other,the locking plate flange parts fitting in said one base plate guidechannel formation terminat ing short of the inner ends of said lockingplate main body parts, means defining a locking slot aligned lengthwiseof said base plate member in the outer end portion of each of saidlocking plate main body parts, nut member's carried by said base platemain body part adjacent the'opposite ends thereof in alinement with saidlocking slots', said base plate main body part being recessed in theregion of said nut members to enable the remainder of said base platemain body part to be substantially flush against a sternboard,adjustable locking screw members extending through said locking slotsinto engagement with said nut members and having means for clamping saidlocking plate members against said base plate member for selectivelyholding said locking plate members against move- 6 ihent relative toeach other and to said base plate member, ends thereof to accommodate alock device preventing slots extending into the inner end portions ofsaid locking unauthorized separation of said locking plate members.plate main body parts from the inner ends thereof for receiving suchstud members upon movement of said Referen es Cited in the file of thispatent locking plate members toward each other to confine such 5 presserfeet between said locking plate main body parts UNITED STATES PATENTSand said base plate main body part, the outer ends of 1,256,132Hillbul'g 12, 1913 said last-named slots being flared to facilitateentry of 2,521,875 Showaltel' P 12, 1950 such stud members therein, anda pair of further slots 2,639,505 Knutson May 26, 1953 formed in saidlocking plate members adjacent the inner 10

